After calling a 30-year-old law student “a slut” and ”a prostitute” over her opinion on contraception, several advertisers have deserted US radio host Rush Limbaugh (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk).
Last week Sandra Fluke testified to lawmakers that Catholic-affiliated Georgetown University, where she is a third-year law student, should pay for contraception.
Nine sponsors have already deserted Mr Limbaugh’s conservative weekday show which airs on 600 radio stations. On Monday the latest firms to withdraw their advertisements were AOL and Tax Reslution Services.
Over the weekend Mr Limbaugh apologised to Ms Fluke in a written statement and expressed his regret on the air waves on Monday.
“Those two words were inappropriate,” he said. “They were uncalled for… I again sincerely apologise to Ms Fluke for using those two words to describe her.”
However he also accused her of trying to “force a religious institution to abandon its principles to meet hers”.
“I acted too much like the leftists who despise me. I descended to their level, using names and exaggerations. It’s what we’ve come to expect from them, but it’s way beneath me.”
Apologies rejected
But Ms Fluke dismissed his apology.
On Monday she told ABC News’ The View : “I don’t think that a statement like this, issued saying that his choice of words was not the best, changes anything.”
“Especially when that statement is issued when he’s under significant pressure from his sponsors, who have begun to pull support from his show.”
She added: “I think any woman who has ever been called these types of names is [shocked] at first.”
“But then I tried to see this for what it is, and I believe that what it is, is an attempt to silence me, to silence the millions of women and the men who support them who have been speaking out about this issue and conveying that contraception is an important healthcare need that they need to have met in an affordable, accessible way.”
Political row
The row originates from President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare law which first required all employers to provide health insurance to cover contraceptives. But he amended the policy due to outrage from Catholic leaders and conservatives. Now religious affiliated employers such as hospitals, universities and charities are not required to cover contraceptives.
On Friday Mr Obama called Ms Fluke in order to offer her his support.
Last month Republican lawmakers had declined to accept Ms Fluke’s testimony, but the Democratic lawmakers invited her to speak at an unofficial session.
In order to avoid a rhetoric that could alienate women voters in the presidential election, Republicans have joined in the criticism against Mr Limbaugh.
On Monday, Senator John McCain, Republican 2008 White House nominee, said that Mr Limbaugh’s remarks were unacceptable.
And presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said it was “silly” to suggest that the radio host’s views were in any way those of the Republican Party.
